Question Period Note: Islamophobia in Canada

• Our government recognizes that Islamophobia in this country is a real and troubling fact, and we have taken concrete steps to address this issue.

• Since 2019, our government has committed close to
$100 million to combatting systemic racism, including Islamophobia, through Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy.

• In 2021, our government declared January 29 as a National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia and held the first ever National Summit on Islamophobia.

• Following an open, transparent, and merit-based selection Governor in Council process, Amira Elghawaby was appointed as the first Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, beginning February 20, 2023.

• The Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia will serve as a champion, advisor, expert, and representative to the Canadian government, for the purpose of enhancing efforts to combat Islamophobia and to promote awareness of the diverse and intersectional identities of Muslims in Canada.

• According to the 2011 National Household Survey, there are just over a million Muslims in Canada.
According to the most recent Statistics Canada release entitled Police Reported Crime in Canada, 2021, the number of police reported hate crimes increased 27% in the second year of the pandemic; this follows a 36% increase in 2020. (hate crime counts include both confirmed and suspected hate crime incidents).
• Following three years of decline, police-reported hate crimes motivated by religion peaked in 2021; this included an increase of 71% targeting the Muslim community.
• The rate of police-reported hate crimes targeting the Muslim community was the second highest at 8 incidents per 100,000 population.
• Police-reported hate crimes increased in all provinces and territories in 2021, with the exception of Yukon.
• The majority of police-reported hate crimes (56%) were non-violent offences, primarily mischief.
• The rise in violent hate crime was the result of more incidents of several violations, including uttering threats (+30%; +98 incidents), common (level 1) assault (+23%; +81 incidents), criminal harassment (+51%; +61 incidents), and major (levels 2 and 3) assault (+35%; +58 incidents).
• A Statistics Canada’s Hate Crimes report released on March 29, 2021, noted that while in 2019, hate crimes motivated by religion decreased by 7% overall, from 657 to 608 incidents, hate crimes against Muslims rose by 9%, from 166 to 181 incidents. Muslims continue to be among the most frequent targets of hate crimes against a religion, continuing trends from previous years.
• Our government has taken concrete steps to address racism and Islamophobia in Canada.
On January 29, 2018, the Prime Minister released a statement on the first anniversary of the Quebec City Mosque shooting, which remains the deadliest attack against religious minorities in modern Canadian history. In 2021, our government declared January 29 would be a National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia.
• Since 2019, our government has committed close to $100 million through Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy, including
$70 million to support communities’ organizations across Canada addressing issues of anti-racism and multiculturalism.
The 2020 Fall Economic Statement committed to protecting communities at risk of hate-motivated crimes through an investment of $13 million over five years, and $2.6 million ongoing, to not-for-profit organizations such as places of worship, schools, and community centres to enhance their security infrastructure.
• In July 2021, our government held a virtual National Summit on Islamophobia, during which they committed to continuing to engage Muslim communities on multiculturalism and anti-racism work.
• In January 2022, our government announced its intention to appoint a Special Representative on combatting Islamophobia. The Special Representative will serve as a champion, advisor, expert, and representative to the Canadian Government, for the purpose of enhancing efforts to combat Islamophobia and promote awareness of the diverse and intersectional identities of Muslims in Canada. The Special Representative will collaborate with domestic partners, institutions, and stakeholders to support Canada’s efforts to combat Islamophobia, anti-Muslim hatred, systemic racism, racial discrimination, and religious intolerance.
• On June 6, 2022, our government announced the Notice of Appointment Opportunity, which invited applicants to submit their candidacy for the new position of Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia. The application deadline was July 6, 2022, and applications are now being reviewed.

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